Press & Reviews

Press Conference - Wednesday, 12 July 2006

A whole day of live music & entertainment with Joanne Kam Poh Poh, Syafinaz Selamat, Norleena Salim, Rozz and the Rozzells.

Syafinaz Selamat

Fans of the local music scene would instantly recognise Syafinaz Selamat. A versatile singer and voice trainer, Syafinaz has been invited to judge and teach in local television talent competitions like One In A Million, Audition and Mentor.

Syafinaz is a Gold Medallist at the World Championship Of Performing Arts in Los Angeles in 1999. With her renowned lovely singing voice, the music degree graduate from UiTM, is not only a soloist the National Choir of Malaysia but also a music lecturer at UiTM, The National Arts Academy as well as the advisor and vocal master of The National Choir of Malaysia.

She has also two high acclaimed albums under her belt - Ingin Bersamamu, 1999 which features hit song 'Mengukir Mimpi' and her sophomore effort, 'Syyh Syafinaz', 2001.

ROZZ

ROZZ is a performer that defies anything generic. After attending high school in Penang, he then went to the United States to further his studies in Theatre Studies and International Relations.

A studied vocal performer, ROZZ has been privileged to be trained by some of the world's most renowned vocal coaches, namely Imogen Casares and Kristine Weitz for Jazz & improv technique. Trained as a classical vocalist by Anne Ridgeworth from the early age of 4, Rozz has since dedicated himself to the study of music and theatre.

His education and career as a performance artist eventually landed him at the epicenter of the actors's domain: New York City, where he was featured in various on and off-Broadway productions.

ROZZ, who credits Barbra Streisand, Joan Sutherland, and Freddie Mercury as major influences, has such a fascinating and commanding presence that one has to see him perform live to truly understand the phenomenon. He currently performs with The Jazz Trio at BAGAN in Penang.

Norleena Salim

Leena is an international star that gives new meaning to the word versatile. She has distinguished herself in theater, cabaret, music as well as on television and radio. She is a class act with a versatile repertoire ranging from Jazz, Contemporary, R&B and Soul, through to Cabaret and Musicals. And she is one of only a handful of performers to have emerged from South East Asia's rich talent pool as a truly international Singer, Actor, Comedian, and Show Host, with a string of awards and nominations to show.

Leena first enthralled Singapore nightclub audiences during her seven year reign at the Boom Boom Room Cabaret as resident show host, performer and vocalist. Her heavenly voice and unique persona earned her fans and fame quickly, and within months landed a lead role in Singapore's runaway hit TV sitcom Under One Roof. For that role she won the Best Comedy Actress Award in the Asian Television Awards 1998 and was first runner-up in 1999. A host of other television shows pursued, and in 2001 Leena was again awarded first runner-up for her role in The Odd Squad, a weekly TV program which she produced and presented.

Back in Singapore, Leena then took up the lead role at Igor's The Main Event where she reigned season after season. The audience demanded that she held court as their leading lady in Igor's nightly musical extravaganzas - from her first appearance as her sultry, supercharged portrayal of the Lady Vampira in the Vampira trilogy (Fountain Of Youth, Soul For A Soul and The Trouble With Living), to her hilarious alter egos in Cold White Lies & Red Hot Scandals and The Game of Love.

Live music is Leena's passion. In 2004 she moved to Australia to re-establish herself first and foremost as an international singer, as well as to further develop her musical expertise. During a series of tsunami charity concerts, she shared the stage with the likes of the Australian Army's 1RAR jazz band. After co-hosting a daily morning radio show on North Queensland's 4ttt-FM, Leena progressed to producing and presenting three daily music radio programs (Overnighters, Smooth Jazz and The Midday Program). Now based in Brisbane, Leena looks forward to showcasing her musical talent as a versatile singer and performer.

Joanne Kam Poh Poh

The emancipation of Ms Kam into the entertainment industry in the 90s, had set a whole new term to the meaning of comedy in the KL night scene. The explosion of her talent on stage, also previewed one of Kuala Lumpur's most infamous club called the Boom Boom Room. It was the epitomize of the city, Boom Boom Room was without a doubt the Studio 54 of Kuala Lumpur and Joanne Kam its mistress of the night, dishing out her scandalous jokes to her ocean of eager subjects that commute weekly to pay tribute to the Queen. She alone set an entire era that was her's to command at will. Kuala Lumpur was never the same again.

Joanne's style of acid tongue humor earned her the reputation of being one of the most notoriously funny lady on stage. Her brand of candid naughty jokes that pokes fun at men, women and all the sexual innuendos that makes her audience lap up everything that was being thrown out wanting more.

Her outfits as well was a state to behold, Ms Kam being a Big woman in many ways was fitted in tight fitting sequins gowns with plunging necklines that accentuates her full ample assets. Her style created a revolution as women of all shapes & sizes started idolizing her, all of a sudden big girls in KL were running around showing off their assets and having as much fun as their skinny counterparts. KL was shocked, in awe and fell head over heels for this bawdy voluptuous comedian.

Besides holding court at the Boom Boom Room caberet, Joanne also did her fair share of tv appearances in sitcoms such as Kopi tiam, Spanar Jaya and "Ah Girl". She also co hosted an episode of Six degrees of separation with Asha Gill for Lonely planet.

In theater Ms Kam has also collaborated with the likes of Instant Café Theater and appeared along side the talents of Jit Murad, Harith Iskandar and Adflin Shauki ( to name a few ) in Life Sdn Bhd 2 and Actorolympics.

In Christmas 2006, Joanne landed the role of the wicked stepmother in Paul Loosely's successful pantomime Cinderella. Playing along side with the likes of Elaine Daly, Indy from comedy court, Dougles Lim and Zaibo.

Joanne also co host the Saturday morning program on Mix FM 94.5 in 2003, one of the nation's leading radio station for six months.

Her chameleon like talent makes her one of the most sought after artist in the industry, as she has the knack of entertaining all levels of audiences. Her ability to adapt and her quick wit is by far her best asset as she handles her crowd with professional ease and have them lapping up her humor craving for more.

By far Ms Kam is also the only female stand up comedian in the country and it looks like her reign is yet unchallenged and has earned her a true DIVA status.

The Rozelles

The Rozelles is a band comprising of James Rozells and Kathleen Rodrigues, has over 60 years of musical experience in Penang. At the earlier part of the show, they will present the music heritage of Penang with a tribute to Penang's great composers - Jimmy Boyle and P.Ramlee.

---